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Whether it is for a quick weekend getaway, or just a respite from the daily grind, New South Wales is a huge state with a lot to offer for both locals and travellers looking for some extraordinary adventure. From towns close to The Blue Mountains to gems tucked in The South Coast, New South Wales is dotted with a variety of bed and breakfast accommodation that suits almost everyone, from places located near remote beaches to heritage properties which have been lovingly refurbished by its current owners to resonate with the past yet still embrace the little luxuries of the present.
Most of these homes have been lived-in or entertained weary travellers from a bygone era, with original architecture and décor still intact to this very day. Here are six top picks, from the most intimate and charmingly restored weatherboard cottages to the most extravagantly refurbished guesthouses.
Listed on the NSW heritage listings building database, Glenella Guesthouse has been entertaining stay-in guests since 1915. This Federation Queen Ann Style guesthouse comes with 14 distinctly-furnished bedrooms, each offering a unique character and vibe. Complementing these rooms is a front verandah, a guest lounge overlooking a log-burning fireplace, a common self-catered kitchen, and study area.
Located in the village of Blackheath, a town that is approximately four kilometres away from the Grand Canyon walking track, Glenella may accommodate as many as 60 guests. On the grounds is a well that is as old as the property itself! Those who love stories and things of the past will appreciate Glenella’s long history, one which dates back to 1904. There are also plenty of opportunities to do some serious bushwalking or mountain biking.
Glenella Guesthouse, 56 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath, NSW 2785 | (+61) 24787 8352
Old Leura Dairy epitomizes a contemporary integrated lodging with an old-world charm. The land belonged to a once rundown dairy. Therefore, visitors will be able to spot the oldest features within its four walls. From timber flooring and wooden beam ceilings to the stained-glass windows, antique claw-foot baths and wrought iron to the barn doors, all bygone materials add a rustic charm to the place. Recycled materials have been used in the reconstruction of all six distinct lodgings of this large bed and breakfast retreat. However, guests are not deprived of the in-house amenities—the lodging has all the comforts equivalent to a 4-star hotel.
Old Leura Dairy, 61 Kings Road Leura, NSW 2780 | (+61) 24782 0700
Offering 270-degree views of the surrounding natural environments, St Raphael, which was first constructed in 1912, consisted of a number of residences which were formerly occupied by nuns. St Raphael of today is made of three distinct getaway properties, the last reminder of what was left standing of a 6,000 square-metre private hilltop estate with rolling gardens.
One such building is The Convent, with its European-inspired central heating systems and an open gas fire. The property is big enough for up to a family of four, with two bedrooms and accompanying spa baths, as well as a self-catering open plan kitchen, lounge, dining, and dual sunrooms.
St Raphael, 27-37 Britain Street, Leura, NSW 2780 | (+61) 1800 663 619
Cosy and cocooned by lush garden landscaping, Strawberry Patch first made its presence felt back in 1912. Dotted 100 metres away from the busiest heart of Leura in the Blue Mountains, this intimate weatherboard cottage is modelled after luxury and built for the sole purpose maximising the comfort of guests, with minimal disturbance.
This adults-only bed and breakfast weatherboard cottage has two master bedrooms that can accommodate up to a maximum of four occupants per night. What’s truly captivating is the spacious bathroom complete with an oval-sized spa bath next to stained-glass bay windows. A smouldering slow-combustion log fireplace in the lounge keeps the home warm during winter, in addition to underfloor and overheating heating systems.
Strawberry Patch Cottage, 10 Wascoe Street, Leura, NSW 2780 | (+61) 1300 721 321
Considered a NSW State Heritage property, Silvermere Guesthouse functions as both a bed and breakfast and self-contained accommodation. Ceiling-to-floor glass windows ensure that this bed and breakfast is bright and cheery during the day. Adding on to guest rooms with central heating are self-contained and family-friendly accommodation. Featuring walk-in showers to Turkish style spa bathroom, each guest room accentuates the original workings from 1923.
Perhaps one of its biggest attraction of this formerly residential and Grammar school is having the Blue Mountains as a gorgeous backdrop and three-kilometre distance from the three-tiered Wentworth Falls Lookout Track. Art Deco fireplaces serve as an alternative during unexpected power outages. This place also accommodates up to 14 guests, and can be booked out for events.
Silvermere Guesthouse, 1 Lake Street, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782 | (+61) 4 1940 3576
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to sleep in a colonial-style bed, or work at a Chinese scholar’s desk? Almost every piece of furniture at Terragong country house bed and breakfast can be traced back to the mid-1800s, a time when the Georgian house was built. Terragong only began using electricity in 1948. For instance, there is a cast iron bed by Ralph Lauren in one of the heritage property’s guestrooms on the ground floor. A distinguishing character in the guestrooms is the wall-to-wall genuine wool Belgian weave carpet.
Apart from the guestrooms, traipsing through the rest of the house, you’ll find cedar doors and windows that open up to a kitchen and dining areas illuminated by natural light, a well-stocked library, a garden room, as well as fireplaces made from marble and tile. To enjoy the outdoors, you’ll find a wrap-around verandah and a saltwater swimming pool stretching up to 10 metres, with a terrace to boot. The National Trust-listed property itself sits on a piece of land that spans some 12 acres, dotted by lush gardens, rolling lawns and towering trees that are two centuries old.
Terragong 1858 Country House Bed and Breakfast, 467 Jamberoo Road Jamberoo NSW 2533 | (+61) 2 4236 1836
Angeline has worked predominantly in magazine journalism in the past decade. Her writing portfolio included mainstream magazines and weekend newspaper supplements. Eventually, she switched gears to writing online. She also likes to watch detective movies of all sorts, and dreams of being a female spy herself.
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